AbiWord project gets funding for ODF improvements

The cross-platform open source AbiWord word processing application has …

The AbiWord project has announced that NLnet is providing funding to facilitate the development of improved OpenDocument (ODF) filters in AbiWord. This will increase the program's compatibility with the format and boost its interoperability with OpenOffice.org (OOo).

AbiWord is a cross-platform open source word processing application. It is widely used on the Linux platform and is regarded by many users as a good lightweight alternative to OOo's word processing program. Although it already has relatively decent support for standard formats, including ODF and Microsoft's Office Open XML (OOXML), there is still plenty of room for improvement in those import and export filters.

NLnet, a non-profit organization that promotes open source development and adoption of open standards, wants to help improve AbiWord's ODF compatibility by providing funding to AbiSource, a company founded by some of the AbiWord developers. To help expose areas where ODF compatibility improvement is needed, the AbiWord team has called for users to help test the import and export filters and file bug reports.

AbiWord is one of several open source programs that is receiving funding from NLnet for ODF-related work. NLnet also provides resources to a Symbian mobile office implementation and a project that aims to implement support for ODF revision tracking with Subversion.